January 19, 2006: Discharge Denied - Debtors' failure to comply with court order was willful and intentional.
A bankruptcy court could infer that Chapter 7 debtors' failure to produce certain documents required by its order was willful and intentional, for purpose of denying the debtors a discharge based on their noncompliance with this order. The order was served both on the debtors and their counsel. Nevertheless, although the debtors were definitely aware of their obligations under the order, they did not produce the documents and offered no explanation for their noncompliance. The debtors' noncompliance was not an isolated event, but rather the culmination of a series of events reflecting the debtors' continued failure to cooperate with the trustee and to abide by their obligations under the Bankruptcy Code.
A bankruptcy court could infer that Chapter 7 debtors' failure to produce certain documents required by its order was willful and intentional, for purpose of denying the debtors a discharge based on their noncompliance with this order. The order was served both on the debtors and their counsel. Nevertheless, although the debtors were definitely aware of their obligations under the order, they did not produce the documents and offered no explanation for their noncompliance. The debtors' noncompliance was not an isolated event, but rather the culmination of a series of events reflecting the debtors' continued failure to cooperate with the trustee and to abide by their obligations under the Bankruptcy Code.
